When my mom was born in 1943, she had three older brothers who were fighting in WW2. One in Africa, another in the Philippines, and the other was in the Navy on the Atlantic Ocean front all along France among other places. They all came home. My uncle who was in the Philippines came home all decorated up with many medals including a Purple Heart. He told me stories........most were not nice. After I saw Hacksaw Ridge, I think I had a better appreciation of what he probably went through.
I was born in 1969 and knew my uncles as older beer drinking, cigarette smoking men who loved to meet up and fish together on the weekends. My uncle who was in Africa let me have my first beer on one of those fishing trips when I was around 13 years old. I had become a man! I still remember how that Old Milwaukee tasted.....didn’t think I was ever gonna get done with it.
My mom had a total of five older brothers.......my Stratton uncles. Uncle Laverne was the oldest, he was in the Navy. Uncle Bill was in Africa. Uncle George received the Purple Heart for his action in the Philippines. Uncle Doc joined the service and was in training when the war ended and never actually had to fight. Uncle Bob was around 13 at the time and was too young to join up. I think he fought just about everybody around here, though. He was a rounder. They’re all gone now, but I’ll always remember and love those old guys. They loved the outdoors, they loved life, they loved each other, they loved America, and they loved me.
My mom is still around at 76 and is the hospital now recovering from surgery for a brain aneurysm she suffered last Friday. She’s a fighter. It’s in her blood.
Thank you to all who have helped us be where we are today. We have our issues here, but I can’t think of anywhere I would rather be than here in America. GTT